‘Translation is central to everything we do’: Vivek Shanbhag on his new publishing venture, Hyphen

India’s literatures are vast, varied, and dazzling. Yet, so little of it has been read and admired beyond linguistic borders. Only a few writers have been translated into English, and the decline in translations between Indian languages is being acutely felt.

Hyphen, based in Bengaluru and an initiative of the Bahuvachana Trust, has been established to bridge these gaps with the support of writers and translators across Indian languages. It aims to carry the voices of India’s many languages across borders, to reveal their brilliance, and to connect them with readers everywhere.

Hyphen is a three-pronged venture. Hyphen: Connecting Literatures, a literary journal in English, in print and digital formats, is scheduled for launch in 2026. Its objective is to present the finest translations, revealing the depth and diversity of writing in Indian languages. Hyphen Publications, a dedicated publishing house, will bring landmark works from Indian languages into English. And the Hyphen Digital Platform will serve as a hub for conversations on literary traditions, translation resources, a curated bookshop, fellowships, seminars, book clubs, publisher forums, and mentorship programmes.

The advisory board of Hyphen comprises some of India’s best-known literary voices, including Geetanjali Shree, Perumal Murugan, Namita Gokhale, KR Meera, and Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar. Christopher Merrill and Sudhir Sitapati...

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